Over spring break, twenty-three students along with Wisconsin Academy (WA) staff, family and alumni, had the amazing privilege of tracing the course of the Protestant Reformation through six European countries!
Highlights of the 11-day trip included singing in the catacombs of Rome, visiting the Colosseum, worshipping in an Alpine cave where the Waldensians hid in times of persecution, tracing the last steps of John Huss in Constance where he was burned at the stake, exploring Wartburg castle where Martin Luther hid, seeing the church where he nailed the 95 theses to the door, and reflecting in the Bethlehem chapel in Prague where Huss preached the Bible in the language of the people.
These experiences were especially meaningful for the juniors and seniors who had recently finished reading the first thirteen chapters of Ellen White’s classic “The Great Controversy” as part of a year-long coordinating class at WA on the Reformation.
“The most meaningful part of the trip for me,” said senior Elijah Boerschinger, “was visiting the catacombs, and singing and praising God in the Waldensian cave, where many people were burned alive singing and praising God.”
Junior Ziporah Rittenhouse said, “To be stepping in the places where faithful Christians gave their lives to God, by spreading the gospel even if it meant death has made a stronger impact on me than just reading about it. I have been awed to learn about the stories and history that I didn’t know about before. My heart desires to have the boldness and faith that the martyrs did and has made me want to strengthen my faith.”
Faith-building experiences like these are part of Wisconsin Academy’s mission to develop leaders today who will walk with Jesus into eternity.
Watch for the opportunity to sign up for updates about future study tours at camp meeting.
Wisconsin Academy Staff
Enjoy a few pictures from our trip!
Tour group in front of the Reformation Wall in Geneva, Switzerland where they learned more about reformers William Fares, John Calvin, Theodore Beza and John Knox:
A lot of walking through amazing architecture:
Students singing praises to God in the chapel in the catacombs of Rome:
Singing in the church in Wittenberg Germany where Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door:
Contemplating the courage and faith of John Hus in the Konstanz Cathedral, where he was accused of heresy and dragged out of the city and burned at the stake:
Wartburg Castle, where Martin Luther, while in hiding, translated the New Testament into the common language:
The Roman Colosseum/Flavian Amphitheater where Christians were killed for entertainment:
Gathered around the Chestnut tree in Sibaud near Bobbio Pellice, where Waldensian leaders made a covenant to defend one another and their cause to the death:
Visiting the “College of the Barbs” where young Waldensian men would come to study for three years before going out as missionaries:
The group outside the Waldensian church in Pro del Torno, looking out over the Waldensian Valley:
